El Hombre didn't just provide the difference with four hits, including two home runs, his ninth career grand slam and six RBIs; he quite literally called his four-run shot.
After opening the third inning with a fly out, Pujols returned to the Cardinals clubhouse to review video. There he predicted to assistant hitting coach Mike Aldrete that his next at-bat would ricochet off the yet-to-open Royals Hall of Fame behind the visitors bullpen in left field. "He didn't say he might hit the Hall of Fame. He said he would hit the Hall of Fame," Aldrete recalled.
Pujols returned in the fourth inning against Royals starting pitcher Gil Meche with the bases loaded and one out in a 4-4 game. Pujols and Meche reached a full count. By then Meche had shown Pujols every pitch in his repertoire except a change-up. When Meche finally threw the pitch, Pujols swatted it some 423 feet off a Hall of Fame window.
"Face it: I'm playing with the best player of all time," insisted starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (8-4),
"After the second home run we just laughed," Schumaker said. "It's just so easy. It's a higher level. It's like he's here and everybody else is at Triple-A. It's June 21, and his numbers would be a great season."
"He does it over and over again. It's impossible to describe how great he is," said manager Tony La Russa, who gained his 2,500th managerial win.
After opening the third inning with a fly out, Pujols returned to the Cardinals clubhouse to review video. There he predicted to assistant hitting coach Mike Aldrete that his next at-bat would ricochet off the yet-to-open Royals Hall of Fame behind the visitors bullpen in left field. "He didn't say he might hit the Hall of Fame. He said he would hit the Hall of Fame," Aldrete recalled.
Pujols returned in the fourth inning against Royals starting pitcher Gil Meche with the bases loaded and one out in a 4-4 game. Pujols and Meche reached a full count. By then Meche had shown Pujols every pitch in his repertoire except a change-up. When Meche finally threw the pitch, Pujols swatted it some 423 feet off a Hall of Fame window.
"Face it: I'm playing with the best player of all time," insisted starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (8-4),
"After the second home run we just laughed," Schumaker said. "It's just so easy. It's a higher level. It's like he's here and everybody else is at Triple-A. It's June 21, and his numbers would be a great season."
"He does it over and over again. It's impossible to describe how great he is," said manager Tony La Russa, who gained his 2,500th managerial win.
Not sure what you were smoking that night barman but there was a runner on 1st and 1st only on that double play. I remember clearly. Brendon Ryan led off with a homer, Schumaker struck out, Tyler Greene single, then pujols 1-6-3 to end the inning.
Update stays:
5-5, 3 Grand Slams, 16 RBI. Avg. 1.000, OBP: .833, SLG: 2.800, OPS: 3.633, TB:14, 1 sac fly.
